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Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2015 is expected in December and will include a variety of upgrades, including a reworked user interface and integration with Cortana.

Cortana is Microsoft's answer to Apple's Siri. The feature made its debut in the US on Windows Phone 8.1 in May, and is designed to let users ask Cortana to perform tasks and supply information using voice commands.

The beta version of Cortana launched in the UK running on the Lumia 830 in October. Prior to the Dynamics upgrade Cortana was not able to access data on protected corporate servers.

The upgrade means that customers will be able to perform a variety of tasks, such as setting up meetings and reminders, searching for contacts, checking accounts and activities, viewing customer lists and creating new customer records, using voice commands.

In a bid to improve Dynamics CRM's cross-industry appeal Microsoft has also added Industry Templates to the platform designed to help businesses with specific needs quickly deploy Dynamics CRM. Microsoft has announced it will release 27 templates by the end of 2014.

Microsoft will offer new customers a promotional price of $65 per user per month at launch for Dynamics CRM 2015. Existing users of Office 365 will be able to upgrade for $45 per user per month.

Microsoft is one of many firms working to add voice command capabilities to its mobile platform.